Spreader



Aug. 28, 1934. RESWTH 1,971,432

SPREADER Filed Jan. 19, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RALPH E. SMITH.

BLT Q I V Q r ATTORNEY R. E. SMITH Aug. 28, 1934.

SPREADER Filed Jan. 19, 1932 5 Sheet-Sheet 2 R. E. SMITH 1,971,432

Aug. 28, 1934.

SPREADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 19, 1952 o m I g: m o o Q g o 3 (3 mv v Mm, wm w t 0 .3 as N ]'l l J 4 \NVENTOR 3 BY RALPH E. SMITH.

ATTORNEY R. E. SMITH SPREADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19. 1932 a H T 0 0 I 2 M 3 0 5 +U R O 4 E m 9 T O N 3 H n E MP A [J M a I $6 I B fi a M M 6 3 3 4 I I W Mr 7 u 3 h a u F W W V n 5 4 5 u 4 L z 3 4 8 6 4 7 2 U n I J a u n w r I l l 1 l LT 5 a 0 A 2 m z 2 2 R. E. SMITH SPREADER Aug. 28

Filed Jan. 19, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 INVENTOR RALPH E. \S'M/ TH.

ATTORNEY Patented iiAu-g. 2 8, 1934 Q i p g I 1,971 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I H amused I I seamen Ralph E. Smith, Gallon, Ohio, aaaignor to The f Gallon Metallic Vault Company, Gallon, Ohio;

a corporation of Ohio Application January 19, 1932, Serial No. 587,548 25 Claims. (01. 275-8) This invention relates to spreaders, andhas tor Figure 9- is a side elevation o! a spreaderin its object to provide a spreading attachment which there is a gear drive connection between adapted to be used in connection with a container the motor shaft and the spreader shaft. for various materials, such as crushed rock, gravel, Figure 10 is a top plan view of a modified form 5 sand, fertilizer and anyother similar material. of a spreader disk. 5'5 It is particularly the object oi. thisinvention to While the spreader is here shown used in con- 'provide a spreader adapted to be used in cnnec nection with a dump truck, it may be used in tion with dump trucks, and similar means of connection with other vehicles for receiving and transportation, so that, the material may be spreading materials. In the present embodiment dumped from the body "i. the truck into ahopper of the invention the spreader is shownused in 1a forming part of the spreader, and the material connection with a dump truck, the trainee! which spread by suitable apparatus associated with and is indicated by the numeral 1, and which has pivoperaced by an operating means connected to and otally a d the rear end thereof a p supported by the spreader. Y a body 2,'with a swing tail gate 2a to control the It is also the object or this invention to provide exit oimaterial to the hopper of the trailer below 15 a spreader consisting of a hopper and suitable it. Th du p b y has On each 8ide,be10w fl perating hanism, partly supported by a wheel rear door, a pair of spaced angle irons 2b attached support and in addition thereto supported ,by .to the body in any suitable manner by welding, some suitable part of a dump truck or soureeoi or by rivets OI bolts, a d 1011111118 8 1 t :N material to be distributed or spread. purpose of which will be later described. w

By having a self-contained detachable trailer The spreader has a frame composed of a'pair on a swiveled caster wheel the truck may either of forwardly diverging-beamsthe rear part oi push or pull the trailer, and the trailer can be ach b min c t d by h um 3- attached to a succession of trucks as the trucks go The rear ends of these beams approach each other -85 to and fro from a source of supply, and then use but do not come together, as is clearly shown in 85 the distribution trailer of this invention to dis- F gurefi, and are held slightly spaced by means tribute the material from the dump body of the Of a lower Plate 4 and an ppe m y truck in an even layer over the roadway, or other be welded or attached to the beams in any suitarea on which the spreading is being done. able m nner. 1 The man operating the spreader stands on a Beneath the plate 4 is a pair of downwardly 7 platform which is convenient for his regulating ex d le 6. which ve o e upp ends the amount oi! material leaving the tail gate of anintegrfl-l plate ,7. This Pla pp the Plate the dump body of the truck entering the hopper. 4 and 1011113 beaflhg 1501 the Plate 4 in pp r These and other advantages will appear from fli r881 end! 01 the ea s These Plate! 86 the following description taken in connection with 7 a d bar 5 a e p v t ther by means or a a the drawings. bolt 8.-

Referring to thedrawings: Extending fromthe plate 7 and around and Figure l is a view showing the letthand side fll'cuflte thel'efmm fend which has its of the spreader attached to one end of a dump free end 6011111961? the lower ends 0! the legs 3 i0 truck, a fragment of which is shown for purposes 6 by means 0! a B w n the legs 6 and mo of l tr t the arms 10 is a wheel 11, the axles of which are p Figure 1 a view of t wheel support r t supported in the lower ends 01 the legs 6 for spreader with the wheel in a position the reverse Supporting t T681 d 0 the ra e f rmed rom of that shown in Figure l. v the beams'ii. 46 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showm d y above the b 5 and fl e ing the righthand side of the spreader attached fl fl 8 is fl Between this Washer to the rear 01 a dump truck. a and a nut 13 on the upper end 01 the bolt is a Figure 4 is a front elevation of the spreader prin This p i reduces fl friction b detached from the dump truck. tween plates 4 and l and keeps the wheel from -60 Figure 5 is atop plan view of the spreader with pp 0 Sh y w t tru k is tmvn the guard broken away to show the operating 811118 at 5 high t Speed Over rough oadsmachinery protected by the guard. This wheel forms a support for the rear of the Figure 6 is a. section n th li 5-6 of Figspreader. The support for the front of the ure 5. I spreader is the truck, or other transporting ve- Figure 7 is a section on "the line 7-7 of Fig- .hicle from which the material spread is fed into us ure 6. a hopper iorming part of the spreader.

Figure 8 is a view showing one corner of the The front parts oi the beams forming the rear of the truck body showing one or the brack- 'rame are indicated by the numeral 15. These ets for attaching the spreader to the rear oi the t t parts f th beams a connected t th parts 3 by means of upwardly and rearwardly no dump truck.

and convenient manner. Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the end bar 18 to the front of the hopper is a plurality of braces 19. The braces 17 and 19 serve as positioning and supporting means for the hopper. The numeral 19a indicates a support for the bearing in which the shaft 48 rotates.

On each side at the front of the frame, is a plate 20 pivoted to the beams. In the upper front end of these plates is a cross rod 21. This cross rod is for the p DOse of attaching the front of the spreader to the rear of the dump body. .Thisrod extends into the space 20 formed by the angle irons 2b,'and is fastened in the space 20 by means of pins 23 attached to chains 22.

Each chain has on one end a pin,'while its other end is suitably attached to a plate 20, or to some suitable part of the frame adjacent the cross rod 21.

Supported on the front end of the frame ad- Jacent the cross rod21 is the hopper 24. This hopper is shown in plan in Figure 5, andin longitudinal section in Figure 6, and inclines rearwardly. and downwardly and terminates in a chamber 25, which has in the lower end thereof an outlet 26 for the discharge of material from the hopper after it has been discharged from the dump body into the hopper. The back of the hopper is indicated by the numeral 2'7 and serves to direct the material dumped into the hopper into the chamber 25. This back of the hopper also serves as a protector for operating mechanism used for distributing the material that passes from the hopper, through the outlet 26.

Immediately above the chamber and transverse of the frame, and supported by the beams is a cross beam 28, which has in its center, between the two beams formlng the frame, an arched part 29. To the rear of the cross beam 28 is a second cross beam 30,'also supported at its ends by the beams forming the main frame of the spreader. Immediately above the chamber'25 ,and supported by the arched part 29 of the cross beam 28 is a gear housing 31, closed at its top by means of a plate 32.

Extending from each side of the plate 82 rearwardly is a brace 33. One end of each of these braces is attached to the plate 32, while its other end is attached to the part 3 of the longitudinal beam. Extending upwardly through the chamber 25 and through the gear housing 31 is a shaft 34, the upper end of which is supported in a bearing in the central part of the plate 32. On this shaft within the gear housing 31 is a gear 35, supported on the bottom of the gear housing 31. This shaft extends downwardly through thechamber 25, out at the opening or outlet 26, and has thereon intermediate its ends, arms 36 which rotate within the chamber 25 for agitating and loosening the material within the chamber so it may be easily discharged from the hopper through the outlet 26.

On the lower end of this shaft and ben a h the outlet 28 is a disc 37, attached thereto in any suitable manner so it will rotate with the shaft. On the upper surface of this disc are radially extending vanes 38. These vanes are arranged so that when the material passes from the hopper, through the outlet 26, it will be radially discharged from the disc and scattered in all directions, so that as the dump truck and the spreader move an equal distribution of the material being spread will be made over a certain radius on a road being graveled or a field being fertilized.

Supported on one side of the frame is a motor 39 suitably attached to the frame and the tank, which has connected thereto a convenient tank 40 for supplying gasoline. In the present instance the motor is a gasoline motor and is used for operating the shaft 34. This motor has a shaft 41, which is connected to a transverse shaft 42 by means of a sprocket chain 43. This sprocket chain engages sprocket wheels, one on the motor shaft and the other on one end of a part 42 of a two-part shaft so that when the motor shaft rotates the part 42 will rotate with it. The other part of this shaft is indicated by the reference character 42a.

The two-part shaft is to the rear of the motor and has thereon a clutch member 44 of the dry disc type, by means of which the two parts are connected for Joint rotation by the sprocket chain 43. The clutch 44 is operated by means of a clutch lever 45, which is suitably pivoted to some part .of the frame and extends upwardly and to one side for manipulation by an operator,

who stands on a platform, hereinafter to be described.

There is also fixed. to the part 42a of the twopart shaft a sprocket wheel which operates a sprocket chain 46 for rotating a sprocket wheel -47 fixed to a shaft 48. This shaft is located transverse of the frame and supported adjacent the gear housing 31, and has a gear connection with the gear 35 located within the gear housing 31.

To the upper edge of the back part 27 of the hopper a guard 49 is pivoted by means of hinges 50. This guard extends upwardly and rearwardly over the motor and other operating mechanism supported by the frame. This guard is attached to the parts 3 of the frame by means of screws 51. These screws permit the ready removal of this guard so it can be tilted back for inpection, cleaning and other operations upon the machinery.

Located on one side of the frame is a platform 52. As shown in Figures 5' and 7, this platform is located on the left-hand side of the frame ad- Jacent the operating mechanism, and so that the clutch lever 45 may be operated by an operator located on this platform.

In order to support the front end of the spreader when it is not attached to a truck or some other vehicle, legs 53 are provided. 'These legs are pivoted to the beams by means of bolts or pins 54, which serve as pivots for the plates 20. 4

These legs are held in inoperative position, as

shown in Figures 1 and 3, by means of springs 55. One end of each spring is attached to a leg," while-the other end is attached'to one of the plates 20, or some other suitable part of the 1 5 frame structure.

When it is desired to support the front end of the spreader on the legs they are pulled down against the operation of the spring to the position shown in Figure 7. The rear ends of the plates have a series of holes 56, by means of which the plates can be adiustably attached to the front end of the frame by means of the bolts 57. These'bolts 57 extend through certain of the holes 56, into the beams of the parts 15 of the frame.

In' operation the spreader is attached to the rear end of a truck, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. when, the spreader is in this position any matet'j'o rial to be spread is dumped from the body of the truck into the hopper of the spreader. In the hopper the material passes back into the chamber and out through the outlet 26. In order that the material may not clog the outlet the arms 36 areprovided. As the material passes out at the outlet it is caught by the disk 3'7, which by its rotation tends to spread and evenly dis- 'tribute'the material over the surface traversed by the dump truck and also'by the spreader.

The operation of the machinery part of the spreader is manipulated by a person standing on the platform at one side of the spreader. In-

this position the clutch lever 45 may be operated for starting or stoppin the operation of ,the disk 37, with the vanes 38 therein. It is understood that the motor for furnishing power 7 for the spreader is running, and motion from the f motor to the disk 37 may be controlled by means of the clutch 44 and the clutch lever-i5;

In Figure 9 there is shown a spreader in which there is a more direct drive between the motor and the spreader shaft. The main parts of the spreading apparatus shown in this figure are similar to those shown in the other figures. Suitably attached to each side beam 15 is a plate 180 which extends forward from the beam. To each of these plates is attached a plate 20 so that it may move in a vertical plan about a pivot 54a that supports the 'leg 53. In the front ends of is attached to the rear of the dump truck body. Supported by the plates 18a is a hopper 240. similar to the hopper 24 shown in the other :15; Extendingtransversely of the frame formed by the side bars 15 is a bar 28:: which serves to support a gear housing 31:: for enclosing the. gears on the spreader shaft 34a and the motor shaft 411:.-

Extending from one of the parts 3 forward to the upper end of the vertical shaft 34a is a brace bar 33a. This bar has extending from it adjacent the upper end of the vertical shaft 34a toward each side of the frame a bar 33b. This bar is attached at its middle point to the front end of'the bar 33a '36 motor shaft is in two sections adapted to be united to-each other by means of a clutch 44a.

The spreader disk is indicated by the numeral 370 and is similar to the disk shown in the other figures. This disk has radially extending vanes 38a that are slightly inclinedto the vertical. Each 'of these vanes has on its outer end, extending beyond the periphery of the dish, a flat extension 88b. These vanes are thus shaped to properly '05 tion between the bars 33a and 3312, a bearing is formed for the upper end of the vertical or spreader shaft. In order that the plates 20a may be held in adjusted position, holes can provided in) similar hole in the frontend ofplate 18a.

I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention. :31 Having thus fully described my invention, what with a dump body, a hopper adapted to be atthese plates is a rod 21a by whlch'the spreaderand at its ends to the transverse bar 28a. Theroller Support by the va means attached distribute the material being spread. At the junc-,

therein through which a pin 57a passes into a" I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I 1. In aspreading apparatus, in combination tached to and supported by the dump body and receive material discharged fromthe body, said hopper having a discharge opening, a shaft in said hopper extending through the opening, power means supported adjacent the hopper to rotate the shaft, and means on the shaft to agitate the material in the hopper.

2. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper adapted to be attached to and supported by the dump body and receive material-discharged from the body, said hopper having a discharge-opening, a shaftin said hopper extending through the opening, a

motor supported adjacent the hopper to rotate the shaft, and means on the shaft to spread the material leaving the hopper.

3. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper adapted to be attached to and supported by the dump body and receive material discharged from thebody, said hopper having a discharge opening, a shaft in said 1 hopper extending through the opening, a motor supported adjacent the hopper to rotate the shaft,

and means on the shaft to spread the material leaving the hopper, said means including a disc.

,4. In a spreading apparatus, in combination 106 with a dump body, a hopper adapted to be attached to and supported by the dump body and receive material discharged from the body, said hopper having a discharge opening, a shaft in said hopper extending through theopening, a motor 10 supported adjacent the hopper to rotate the shaft, and means on the shaft to spread the material leaving the hopper, said means comprising a disc having radiating vanes thereon.

5. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper, means for attaching the hopper to each side of the rear end of said body for receiving material discharged from the body, said hopper having a'discharge opening in the bottom thereof, a motor, and means operated by the motor for spreading the material as it passes through said opening;

6. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper having a roller sup port, means for pivotally attaching the hopper to each side of the rear of the dump body so that material may be dumped from the body into the hopper and the hopper may be transported on its to the hopper for discharging the material from In port, means for attaching the hopper to the dump body so that material may be dumped from the M5 body into the hopper, a motor, and means operated by the motor for discharging the material from the hopper and spreading the material.

,9. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper-having a roller sup- 0 port, means for attaching the hopper to the dump body so that material may be dumped from the body into the hopper, a motor, and means operated by the motor for discharging the material from the hopper and spreading the material, said means including a shaft having radiating vanes thereon.

10. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a dump body, a hopper having a roller support, means for attaching the hopper to the dump body so that material may be dumped from the body into the hopper, a motor, and means operated by the motor for discharging the material from the hopper and spreading the material, said means including a shaft having thereon radiating arms and a disc.

11. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a vehicle having a body, a frame adapted to be attached at one end to each side of the body, means to adjustably attach the frame to the body, a roller support for the other end of the frame,,=a hopper on the frame for receiving material from the body, and means beneath the hopper for spreading material.

12. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a vehicle having a body, a frame attached at one end to each side of the body, a wheel support for the other end of the frame, a hopper on the frame having an outlet, a motor on said frame,

and means operated by the motor for spreading material leaving the hopper through the outlet.

13. In a spreading apparatus, in combination with a body, a frame attached at one end to each side of the body, a wheel support for the other end of the frame, a hopper on the frame, spreading means supported beneath the hopper, a motor, and means for operatively connecting the spreading means to and disconnecting it from the motor.

14. In combination, in a trailer spreader of a supporting frame, a wheel at one end attaching means at the other end, ahopper on the frame adjacent thereto, spreader means supported by the frame and adapted to receive material from the hopper and spread it, and power means on said frame for operating said spreader means.

115. The combination, in a trailer spreader of a supporting frame, a wheel atone end, adjustable attaching means pivoted to the other end, a hopper on the frame adjacent thereto, spreader means on the frame adapted to receive material from the hopper and spread it. power means on said frame for operating said spreader means, and

means pivoted to the pivot of the attaching means to support the hopper end of the trailer when inoperative comprising swinging legs.

16. The combination, in a trailer spreader of a supporting frame, a wheel at one end, adjustable attaching means pivoted on the other end, a hopper on the frame adjacent thereto, spreader means on the frame adapted to receive material from the hopper and spread it, power means on said frame for operating said spreader means, means pivoted to the pivot of the attaching means to support the hopper end of the trailer when inoperative comprising swinging legs, and yielding means for maintaining said legs in inoperative position while the trailer is being operated.

1'7. In combination, in a trailer spreader, a :rame, a caster wheel at one end thereof, means to attach the other end of the trailer frame to another vehicle, a hopper on the frame, a spreader beneath the hopper, a stirrer associated with the spreader, and power means on the frame for operating the stirrer and the spreader.

18. In combination, a truck having a pivoted dump body, a trailer attached to the rear'end of the dump body pivotaily, a tail gate on said dump body for regulating the exit of m'aterialtherefrom, a hopper on the trailer for receiving the material from the dump body as it dumps, and a wheel support at the other end of the trailer.

19. In combination, a truck having a pivoted dump body, a trailer attached to the rear end of the dump body pivotally, a tail gate on said dump body for regulating the exit of material therefrom, a hopper on the trailer for receiving material from the dump body as it dumps, a wheel support at the other end of the trailer, a spreader beneath said hopper for receiving material therefrom and spreading it.

20. In combination, a truck having a pivoted dump body, a trailer attached to the rear end of the dump body pivotally, a tail gate on said dump body for regulating the exit of material therefrom. a hopper on the trailer for receiving material from the dump body as it dumps, a wheel support at the other end of the trailer, 8. spreader beneath said hopper for receiving material therefrom and spreading it, a platform on said trailer on which an operator can stand, a source of power for operating said spreader, and means for controlling said source of power adiacent said platform, said platform being arranged adjacent the tail gate for operation thereof by the operator on the platform.

21. In combination, a pivoted dump body on a truck, a trailer detachably attached to the rear end of said dump body, a hopper on the trailer adapted to receive material from the dump body when it is dumped, a spreader beneath the hopper, power means on the trailer for operating the spreader, and a caster wheel supporting the free end of the trailer.

22. In combination, a pivoted dump body on a truck, a. trailer detachably attached to the rear end of said dump body, a hopper on the trailer adapted to receive material from the dump body when it is dumped, a spreader beneath the hopper, power means on the trailer for operating the spreader, a caster wheel supporting the free end of the trailer, and means to adjustably position and attach said trailer with respect to said dump body.

23. In a spreader trailerfthe combination of a triangular frame having one portion at a lower level than the other, a caster wheel pivoted on the free end of the upper portion, a hopper, power means,'a stirrer carried on the lower portion of the frame, and means to detachably attach the lower portion of the frame to a dump body.

24. In a spreader trailer, the combination of a triangular frame having one portion at a lower level than the other, a caster wheel pivoted on the free end of the upper portion, ahopper, power means, a stirrer carried on the lower portion of the frame, means to detachably attach the lower portion of the frame to a dump body, and a platform carried adjacent said hopper and power mechanism above said spreader on the depressed portion of the frame.

- 25. In combination in a trailer spreader, a triangular frame body having a caster wheel at one end and detachably attaching means at the other end, a hopper, spreader and power means for operating the spreader over the hopper to one side thereof.

RALPH E. SMITH. 

